Let's Change The World (and save TrackPoint)

Hi guys. Hoping you will stand with me and effect change.

Professionals reluctantly accepted the loss in productivity associated with ever-widening screen aspect ratios. They reluctantly accepted questionable machine build quality, indifference to IPS displays, and shoddy USB docking. The removal of dedicated TrackPoint buttons is the last straw.

Help me support this petition for the availability of a TrackPoint button option in all future T and X series ThinkPad laptops. Let us stand together to reject the latest consumerization of IBM's professional product line. If we say nothing, we're no better than they are.

http://www.change.org/p/lenovo-restore-our-trackpoint-buttons

Nobody puts TrackPoint in a corner!

FAQ:

But I don't care about TrackPoint. Why should I sign? Even if you don't care about TrackPoint, this petition speaks to our need as professionals to stand up for what we believe in... defending the professional laptop and corresponding hardware feature's right to exist.

I've signed the petition. How else can I help the cause? Please tell your friends and add a link to the petition in your signature.
http://www.change.org/p/lenovo-restore-our-trackpoint-buttons

 

Just vote with your money, not some lame online petition.

Buy another business laptop brand.

 

Or wait for the Broadwell models to be released, as most of them will offer dedicated trackpoint buttons again.

 

While I hope you're right, I think that remains to be seen.

 

I don´t think so, you can see it already: Lenovo ThinkPad Helix 2, IdeaTab S8 leaked ahead of IFA - Liliputing

 

I think the campaign shouldn't just include the Trackpoint (7 row keyboard, Power Manager, traditional _61/60 keyboard feel, old school Lenovo 20V round tip adapter, magnesium roll cage). But you know that's just my lowly opinion.

 

Whaaat!? This will be amazing. If true, we can declare success. I'll keep the petition going until we have confirmation that the T and X series laptops are getting their buttons back.

 

I completely agree. Some other grievances are mentioned in the petition but I think we need to start small.

 

I don't think a few leaked photo would stand up in court.

 

Do you guys think if the trackpad part is still a clickpad or more of a traditional design? Assuming the latter I'm OK with it, but if the former it's still far from optimal if you ask me. For that matter, I find myself using the trackpoint buttons on x131e's because they're easier to deal with. (Granted, the trackpads aren't great on those, and I don't think the integrated buttons were great either on them. Not clickpads, FWIW.) And I thought the trackpads on the x120e's were nicer to deal with by comparison. (Smooth surface + discrete buttons.)

 

It is also on the E545. Not just a leak, its on Lenovo's site. ThinkPad E545 | Small Business Laptop With New AMD Processor | Â| Lenovo US

 

Which really doesn't mean much since the E540 had dedicated buttons as well, while the "real" ThinkPads (T, W, X) lost them with the *40 series...

 

Then how about the official product tour? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YMZZjB6kIs&list=UUpvg0uZH-oxmCagOWJo9p9g

Wrong. The E540 has integrated buttons. E545 just had dedicated buttons because it still used the old case of E530/E535.

 

Closeup look at the new TrackPoint-Buttons:

 

So basically, similar to the original x1 carbon? I suppose it's an improvement, but I'm still hoping that the trackpad buttons will return as well (at least on the larger ones)...

 

If I can finally get a new ThinkPad with IPS and trackpoint buttons I'll be a happy man.

 

TrackPoint buttons are nice to have back but I wish they would offer a "classic" keyboard option.

 

i hoped they would return it in the next models. if i can get a 14" thinkpad in the T models or E models with say 840m graphics as minimum with dedicated buttons. then id be back.
the t440p had nvidia 730m and the e440 had the nvidia 740m. not so bothered bout the buidl so much. as long as it has silent dedicated buttons and grpahics. im sold. but the hp elitebook 840 g2/zbook 14 g2 is there too and im holding out for the superior graphics. if not much is in it for graphics. ill pick based on processors that can be swapped out.

my ex e320 with 6630m grpahics was far my fav lenovo. ive owned the t430p and didnt fancy the build quality better tho it was stronger. but for value for money the e320 made it better and i slapped in a quad-core to improve the original i5-2430m it had. but was impressed with the new slim elitebooks since the my 8530w since i decided to downsize in aesthetics to 13"-14" and graphics cos i like to play games with modest settings.

 

It's soooo beautiful.

If this comes to the next X1 Carbon or T series update, Lenovo can have my money.

 

i can support the viewpoint of 600x and IBMThink, wait for the Broadwell

 

i'll believe it, when i see it. So far nothing in shops with buttons here.

 

Broadwell is not out yet, with the exception of Core M, which will be used in the new ThinkPad Helix. So no wonder there is nothing on sale yet.

 

Ohhh... How I wish them to comment on that http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/755422-new-thinkpad-line-up-10.html#post9806541

Additionally, speaking about Pro Keyboard for the Helix 2... I believe, 2 (two) completely different set of keyboard prototypes were demoed -- keep remember that Helix 2 starts Oct 24, 2014, but the Pro Keyboard to be outed not earlier than Feb 2015 which means a plenty of time for design&manufacture of it.

So, these two types of Helix 2 Pro Keyboards:
1. NO trackpoint buttons were found in 2014 Lenovo Thinkpad Helix 2 hands-on and first impressions
2. ALL trackpoint buttons were found in Hands-on: Lenovo ThinkPad Helix shows off fingerprint scanner, slimmer design, variety of keyboard docks - Pocket-lint

Even on official Lenovo videos:
1. There are NO buttons on the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KoaM1WfW9g
2. There ARE buttons on the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YMZZjB6kIs

Moreover, it looks like pocket-lint is the only source that published Helix 2 Pro Keyboard WITH buttons. All the rest of reviewers were seeing BUTTONLESS trackpads, simply check those few from IFA 2014 -- there are NO buttons:
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1OhDwCCHg0
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dXjbRwtnRI
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wbL2twXgbA
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgW3kxddzfA

I'm really curious to see where pocket-lint got their Helix 2 sample from...

 

The ones they showed on IFA were just mockups/protypes for this event, just like the one they showed in the video (which was made in August, so its an really early prototype).

The production of the Pro keyboard hasn´t started yet, that why they didn´t show the "real ones" on IFA. The one that Pocket-Lint showed on the other hand was one of the few. This hands-on was made on IDF, which was a few days after IFA. All of the Hands-On videos you linked are from IFA.

Note that the renders on the official product page all show the buttons: ThinkPad Helix 2-in-1 Ultrabook Laptop & Tablet PC | 11.6" with Windows 8.1Â| Lenovo US

 

Trackpoint buttons are back! Woohoo!

An episode from Helix 2 video-chat last night #LenovoHangouts: Meet ThinkPad Helix - the 2-in-1 for Business - YouTube

 

Wait, 3+2 buttons? Meaning buttons for the trackpoint AND the trackpad, if I understood it correctly? WOOHOO indeed! Now if only there were a way to put that in my t440s...

 

No, they mean "3 Buttons for the TrackPoint + a two-button clickpad" (opposed to the "5-button clickpad". Essentially, like the first X1 Carbon.

 

Damn it. Well, it's better than nothing I guess. Assuming the entire pad no longer depresses...

 

Well, it doesn´t really matter, does it - even if you use the TouchPad, you can also use the TrackPoint buttons to click.

I am pretty sure its still made to be depressed entirely.

 

That's exactly what I do on the Thinkpad x131e carts I deal with - I think the integrated button design is poorly done there, not to mention that the top of the pad (which curves downward there) isn't touch sensitive even though it's the same surface.

Still, depressed entirely? Damn. Well, it's a start... though I'd really like to see the current trackpad (it tracks quite nicely, and I like the smooth surface), but with only a full set of buttons for both trackpad and trackpoint that depress.